Fruit-picker.



PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904.

J. UTTERBAGK.

FRUIT PIUKER.

'APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 19, 1903.

NO MODEL.

Hdiigzsszs 1.4

NITED STATES Patented December 13, 1904.

PATENT Orricn.

FRUIT-PICKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,572, dated December13, 1904.

Application filed November 19, 1903. Serial No. 181,888. (No model.)

To ztZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I. J AM S UTTERBAGK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Honeoye Falls, in the county of Monroe and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Fruit-Picker for Picking Fruit,such as Apples and Peaches, from the Tree, of which the followng is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improved fruitpicker, and has for itsobject the production of a simple, efficient, and inexpensive device ofthis character by means of which various kinds of fruit may be quicklyand readily plucked or detached from the tree and de posited in asuitable receptacle without bruising or otherwise injuring the fruit.

A further object of the invention is to provide the receiver with aplurality of fingers yieldable but in one direction to thereby permitsaid fingers to embrace the fruit when the picker is forced upwardly andto sever or detach. the fruit from the tree when a downward pull isexerted thereon.

A still further object is to arrange the fruit engaging fingers in sucha manner that they will act independently of each other, thus permittingthe operation of the picker at any angle or from any position which willenable the operator to embrace the fruit within the receiver.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, itbeing understood that various changes in form, proportion, and minordetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from theprinciple or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fruit-picker constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewshowing in dotted lines the position of the fingers as the fruit passesinto the containing-receptacle. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view ofone of the fingers and its supporting-bracket detached.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

In constructing the picker I employ a supporting frame or receiver 5,preferably circular in shape, as shown, and formed of metal or othersuitable material, said frame being provided at its lower end with aseries of openings or perforations 6 and having a substantiallytriangular-shaped reinforcing-plate 7 riveted or otherwise securedthereto. Fastened to the bottom of the circular frame 5 is afruit-containing receptacle 8, in'cferably in the form of aflexible bag,the upper end of which is secured to the frame by means of cords orsimilar fastening devices, which pass through the perforation 6 andengage said bag, as shown. An operating-hand1e 9 is secured in anysuitable manner to the inner side of the triangular plate 7 and extendswithin the bag 8, a strap 10 being secured to the lower end of saidhandle for closing the bottom of the bag when picking the fruit.

Rigidly secured to the inner periphery of the supporting-ring 5 are aseries of brackets 11,pr0vided with outwardly-projectingspaced lugs 12,between which are pivoted .in any suit able manner a plurality ofhorizontal]y-dis-- posed radiating lingers 13. The long ends it of thefingers 18 extend inwardly over the mouth of the receiver and fill thetop of the frame sufficiently to prevent the fruit passing between said.fingers after they have closed over the fruit, while the short weightedend 15 of each finger rests upon the top of the frame, projecting overand below the outer edge thereof, so as to form a rigid knuckle, andthereby hold said fingers firmly in a horizontal position.

The fingers 13 are provided with depending lugs or projections 16, whichengage the bracle ets 11 and limit the downward movement of the fingersand prevent said lingers from tip ping downwardly to a point where theywould overbalance and fail to return to their normal position afterengaging the fruit.

The fingers 13 being independently pivoted to the supporting-frame, asshown, permit the operation of the picker at any angle or from positionthe fruit may be readily detached or severed from the limb of the treeby exerting a slight downward pull on the operating-handle. The fruitthus detached falls through the vframe into the bag or other receptacle,from which it may be removed when desired by releasing thesecuring-strap, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. In a deviceof the class described, a re ceiver, a plurality of fingers pivoted tothe receiver and yieldable downwardly within the same, and means forreturning said fingers to operative position.

2. In a device of the class described, a receiver having a plurality ofindependentlymounted fruit-engaging members yieldable downwardly withinthe receptacle, and means for returning said members to operativeposition.

3. In a device of the class described, a re ceiver having a plurality ofradially-disposed fingers pivoted thereto and yieldable clownwardlywithin the same, and means for returning said fingers to operativeposition.

t. In a device of the class described, a receiver having an open top,and a plurality of self-adjusting fruit-engaging fingers pivoted theretoand serving to normally close the top of said receiver.

5. In a device of the class described, a re ceiver having a plurality ofhorizontally-disceiver having an open top, and a plurality of weightedfruit-engaging fingers pivoted thereto and yieldable downwardly Withinthe receiver, said fingers being normally held in a horizontal plane.

7. In a device of the class described, a re ceiver having an open top, aplurality of normally horizontal fruit-engaging fingers pivoted thereto,and means for limiting the downward movement of said fingers.

8. In a device of the class described, a receiver having a plurality ofhorizontally-disposed fruit-engaging fingers pivoted thereto andyieldable downwardly within the receptacle, means for limiting thedownward movement of the fingers, and means for automatically returningsaid fingers to operative position.

9. In a device of the class described, a receiver having a plurality ofnormally horizontal radiating fingers pivoted thereto and yieldabledownwardly within the receiver, and means carried by said fingers forlimiting the downward movement thereof.

10. In a device of the class described, a re ceiver having a pluralityof horizontally-disposed fingers pivoted thereto and extending over themouth of the receiver, said fingers being provided with Weighted endportions.

11. In a device of the class described, a re ceiver, and a plurality offruit-engaging fingers pivoted thereto, one end of each finger beingweighted and provided with a depending lug.

12. In a device of the class described, a receiver having a plurality ofradially-disposed independently-pivoted fingers yieldabledownwardlywithin the receiver and terminating short of the center of the latter,said fingers being normally held in a horizontal plane.

In witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

J AMES UTTERBAGK.

Witnesses:

L. RAY S'roKon, GEORGE DRUSCHEL.

